Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-11-09
CUTE CEIINAMEN.
FOistinc Cheap Bric-a-Brac at High
Prices on the Eastern Tourist.

"You wantee see Chinatown day. Me
guide. Me show you Chinatown"
The speaker was a shrewd-looking
coolie who stood at the corner of Du-
pont and Clay streets, says the San Fran
cisco Chronicle. He spoke English with
much of the usual disregard for adj
iectives and verbs exhibited 10y Chinese,
but, nevertheless, with more than ordi-
nary huency. He was fellow who had
evidently tried his hand at many callings
in America, and was ready to adopt any
profession, from that of kidnapping wo-
men to bribing jurors, providing there
were profit in It, Nowhere else could
one see such a type of Chinese--a coolie
so much Americanized, yet so typically
follower of Conlucius; so specifically
bland, yet full of latent impudence so
outwardly meek, yet so inherently an
outlaw and desperate.
"That fellow remarked a special
policeman, whom the reporter met half
a block farther on, after declining the
proffered services as guide" that fell
low is one Of the leaders of the biggest
highbinders' society in Chinatown. |
never knew him to follow anything like
a legitimate occupation till this fall,
when he blossomed out as guide.
Chinatown is getting to be full of
Chinese guides. If you go around
much you will find lots of them waiting
for chance to be engaged by tourists.
This shows how ready the Chinese are
TO take up any occupation followed by
white men. You know for years white
special officers have been in the habit Of
showing visitors through Chinatown.
If distinguished visitor from the
East wanted to explore the underground
alleys and opium dens, he generally APP
Piled to the chief of police, and some
officer went round with him to show HIM
the sights and protect him, for there are
places in Chinatown you wouldn't feel
safe in by yourself, and even with a big
policeman, armed with star and club,
You would not be at all too comfortable.
Now the Chinese have got to get some
OF the perquisites themselves, as you can
see by the way that highlander at the
corner is soliciting a chance to act as
guide. | guess I'll 60 down and search
his pockets he might have some of the
iewelry about him that was stolen last
night from a pawnbroker's store on Pa.
cific street"
The special officer proceeded to sur
prise the enterprising highlander anil
the reporter went on his explorations
At the next corner gOod-looking yourg
Chinaman, with color in his cheeks like
an American boy, and who had evidently
grown TO manhood under the stars and
stripes, offered his services as guide.
81 show you all to be seen China
town. Get you bargain dbuc, "
said he, using the personal pronoun like
a native, and having no linguistic trou-
bic with the letter 81" usually so
formidable an obstacle to NongOlian
essays at free and-easy conversation.
The reporter looked with curiosity at
the fellow, for he was type somewhat
new in Chinatown. The first guide was
enthusiastically al importation from
Hong Kong. He had all the marks
of Oriental nativity in his face,
and his department bespoke the Asiatic
foreigner trained under a despctic
government and grown bold and
aggressive il the free republic He was
what in common parlance might be
termed a very hard case, and looked it.
The second applicant for engagement
as guide would have attracted some at
tentiOn in China, for except in his dress
and the manner of wearing his hair he
resembled the imported gentlemen very
slightly. The slant 10 his eyes seemed
modified, his cheek-bones had not the
prominence Of those OF the man from
Hong Kong, and his face was smooth
and oval. There were none Of the
rugged projections and tue bold in
dentations hat stamp the counte-
nances OF the subjects OF the Chinese
empire who lave been born under the
dragon flag. Nevertheless, he was a
Chlnaman in every sense OF the term,
but ChinaDan affected as far as 1t is
possible in one generation to leave the
imprint OF American freedom and Cali
fornian luxury on the serfdom and pow
erty of Asia. The reporter declined his
proifered services, aud the special po-
liceman, who had Just then returned
from a fruithss search of the high
binders pockets, proceeded to give a
brief biographical review OF the second
guide.
THAT'S young Chinaman." said he.
He belongs down in Spofford alley;
his father is a fish peddler; his mother
was imported here and was sold for 81 800
to Chinese miner up the country, Some
OF the Wong family kidnapped her
There was row in the courts, and finally
she got married out of the mission. That
Young fellow got some schooling in the
mission, and does Interpreting and any
thing else he can get TO make 8 dollar.
Ii You want to find lottery game or
opium-loint or anything else, he'll show
you. hes very fly. There are o lot oil
ust such young Chinese growing up